China has hinted at providing additional petroleum products to Nepal. 

During a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa and Li Yuanchao, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese side said Beijing could provide more fuel to Nepal, according to the Nepali Embassy in China.

The consignments of the 1,000 metric tonnes of petrol that China had earlier pledged have already arrived in Nepal. 

DPM and Foreign Minister Thapa, who is on a weeklong visit to China, reached Beijing on Thursday. 

Finalising a deal to import fuel from China is one of the key agenda of Thapa. A commercial deal is required to be signed for importing fuel from China, which though has shown willingness to carry forward the process, the Nepali side’s reluctance has resulted in the delay. 

Welcoming Thapa as the first high level dignitary to visit China since the formation of the government under the new constitution, the Chinese Vice President Li stated that the visit has special significance as Nepal and China are marking the 60 years of diplomatic relations. 

He also assured Thapa of China’s full support and cooperation for the development of Nepal, said the embassy.  “Both sides shared that high level exchange of visits between the two countries would help further strengthen ties,” said the embassy. 

During the meeting, DPM Thapa expressed happiness over the excellent state of bilateral relations between the two countries in the last six decades. 

Earlier in the day, addressing journalists in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said: “ It is the highest-ranking Nepali delegation that has ever visited China since the establishment of the new Nepali government in October this year. Both sides attach great importance to the visit.”